Germany’s Bundestag Budget Committee has approved the acquisition of 20 Eurofighter aircraft under a new Tranche 5 package, valued at €3.75 billion, with deliveries planned between 2031 and 2034. The order strengthens the Luftwaffe’s core combat fleet while supporting the development of the electronic-warfare EK variant, which will take over Tornado ECR missions.
The decision forms part of seven major armament packages spanning air, land, sea, and munitions, reflecting Berlin’s commitment to enhancing deterrence and readiness. The Tranche 5/EK Eurofighter offers higher availability, improved kinematics, modern survivability systems, and greater growth potential than the aging Tornado fleet, while also integrating the ECR mission using digital sensors and electronic-jamming capabilities not economically feasible for the older platform.
The new aircraft will feature AESA radar, updated engines, and full spares, financed from the regular defense budget. Pilot training will be supported by a €412 million simulator upgrade, ensuring a seamless transition from classroom to operational cockpit. As the Tornado fleet retires, the Tranche 5 Eurofighter strengthens air policing, multi-role strike, and electronic warfare capacity.
Tranche 5 builds on previous blocks by combining AESA radar with integrated EK electronic-warfare capabilities from the outset. This approach allows streamlined upgrades across radar, mission systems, and weapons, enabling the migration of Tornado ECR tasks to the Eurofighter. Simulator modernization ensures crews are fully trained on new radar and EW modes before deployment.
Operationally, Tranche 5 EK provides sustainable electronic-attack and emitter-location capabilities. AESA radar improves detection, tracking, low-observable target handling, and embedded electronic-attack options, enhancing survivability in contested airspace. In conjunction with the F-35A, Eurofighter provides sustained air superiority, rapid reaction, high-payload strike, and scalable electronic warfare, while F-35A handles stealth penetration and nuclear-sharing responsibilities.
Financially, the Tranche 5 package totals approximately €3.75 billion for 2031–2034 deliveries, with simulator modernization at roughly €412 million. EK electronic-warfare development continues through 2033 with additional allocations for test infrastructure, and €53 million was approved for 27×145 mm ammunition for onboard guns.
In summary, the Tranche 5 approval transitions Germany’s electronic combat capabilities from the aging Tornado to a fleet-standard Eurofighter, providing the Luftwaffe with the resources, infrastructure, and training to fulfill NATO SEAD/DEAD roles well into the 2030s and beyond.
